GM top seller in US in December, followed by Ford

DETROIT: Automakers on Tuesday reported strong US sales in December, indicating that 2015 would smash records, and most forecasters said the new year will be even better.

For full year 2015, General Motors Co said industry sales will top the previous record of 17.35 million vehicles in 2000 as low gasoline prices, easy credit and moderate economic growth boosted the industry.

GM said December sales will end at 17.8 million vehicles on a seasonally adjusted annualized basis. In a Thomson Reuters poll, 38 economists and analysts forecast December sales at 18.1 million vehicles.

"The US economy continues to expand and the most important factors that drive demand for new vehicles are in place, so we expect to see a second consecutive year of record industry sales in 2016," said Mustafa Mohatarem, GM's chief economist.

Mohatarem said the most important factors are employment and growth in personal income, which will remain strong this year.

GM, the top seller in the United States, said its monthly sales rose 5.7 percent from a year ago, and Ford Motor Co, the No 2 US automaker, reported a jump of 8 percent.